[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Mask" Episode 19

Episode 19 of "Mask" felt like an attempt to prolong the inevitable end. Each scene went on a bit too long. Each emotional scene was irreverently dramatic in order to fake a few feels and create a tension that had long since seeped away.

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The Min-woo/Ji-sook couple has become a representation of love rather than telling their own story. Earlier "Mask" had them grow as people, both separately and apart. Now it spends time on their confessions of love and sappy moments. Such moments are always important, but not when they are five minutes of the drama and not when the penultimate episode ends on a kiss. There should've been some major tension driving the arrival of the finale, especially with huge events as fires and unnecessary police car chases for the umpteenth time.

Min-woo's character is the most disappointing in terms of development. He was doing well, overcoming his fears and learning to live apart from his mental illness label. Now he is more driven, but it's completely motivated by his love for Ji-sook rather than a desire to change himself for the better for his own sake. He isn't growing together with Ji-sook, but because of her. That is always less satisfying. He also never responds to Seok-hoon's threats and never makes good on his own threats against Seok-hoon. They are both just hot air. I want to see their plans go head to head.

Mi-yeon is the most powerful and gracefully drawn character. The way her conscience rattles her to the bone is mesmerizing. When she speaks of death, the threat is dire. It is something a character like her would attempt with the desperation she constantly feels. Despite the evil that she is done, she is easy to understand, especially with how Seok-hoon knowingly manipulates her. She and Seok-hoon and their journey together seem like the main couple at this point. They have a push-and-pull relationship with high tension and intrigue. Slowly we've come to see that Seok-hoon may not love her, but he does care. The tears in his eyes whenever Mi-yeon cries are evidence of that. It's just his personal vengeance trumps even a happy marriage. That is agonizing, and, most of all, interesting. We need something interesting in this show after car chases by the dozen, fires, impotent threats, and a whole lot of going nowhere.

I'm watching the last episode for Mi-yeon and to see where her journey takes her. The truth of the lies that she keeps are breaking her apart. What will happen to her? Will she take that fatal step? Oh yeah, and what happens to everyone else?

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

Follow @ raine0211

"Mask" is directed by Boo Seong-cheol, written by Choi Ho-cheol, and features Soo Ae, Ju Ji-hoon, Yeong Jeong-hoon, and Yoo In-young.

 

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